vocab level g 1-14 definitions and synonyms
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547 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Acquisitive | Able to get and retain information, concerned with acquiring wealth or property |
| Arrogate | To claim or take without right |
| Banal | Hackneyed, trite, commonplace |
| Belabor | To work excessively, to thrash soundly |
| Carping | (v.) Tending to find fault in a petty, or nasty way , (n.) petty, nagging criticism |
| Coherent | Holding together, making a logical whole, comprehensible, meaningful |
| Congeal | To change from liquid to solid, thicken, to make rigid |
| Emulate | To imitate with the intent of surpassing the original |
| Encomium | A formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute |
| Eschew | To avoid, shun |
| Germane | Relevant, appropriate, fitting, apropos |
| Insatiable | So demanding/great as not to be satisfied |
| Intransigent | Refusing to compromise, irreconcilable |
| Invidious | Offensive, hateful, tending to cause bitterness/resentment |
| Largesse | Generosity in giving, lavish/bountiful contributions |
| Reconnaissance | A survey for military purposes, a preliminary inspection/examination |
| Substantiate | To prove with evidence, to give concrete/substantial form to |
| Taciturn | Habitually silent/quiet, inclined to rarely speak |
| Temporize | To stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision, to compromise |
| Tenable | Capable of being held or defended |
| Accost | To approach and speak first, to confront aggressively |
| Animadversion | A comment indicating strong disapproval |
| Avid | Desirous of something to the point of greed, intensely eager |
| Brackish | Having a salty taste, unpleasant to drink |
| Celerity | Swiftness, rapidity of motion/action |
| Devious | Straying away from a straight course, acting in a shifty or underhanded way |
| Gambit | An opening chess move that is risky, or sacrifices a minor piece, in order to gain a later advantage |
| Halcyon | (n.) A legendary bird, (adj.) calm, peaceful, affluent, prosperous |
| Histrionic | Pertaining to actors and their techniques, theatrical, artificial, melodramatic |
| Incendiary | (adj.) Deliberately causing fires, tending to stir up strife/rebellion, (n.) arsonist, one who causes strife |
| Maelstrom | A whirlpool of great size and violence, a situation resembling a whirlpool of great size and violence |
| Myopic | Nearsighted, lacking a realistic, broad view of a situation, lacking discernment and foresight |
| Overt | Open, easily recognized, not hidden |
| Pejorative | Tending to make worse, expressing disapproval/disparagement, belittling, deprecatory, derogatory |
| Propriety | The state of being proper, appropriateness, what is socially acceptable |
| Sacrilege | Improper/disrespectful treatment of something sacred |
| Summarily | Without delay or formality, briefly, concisely |
| Suppliant | (adj.) Asking humbly, (n.) One who makes a request humbly, a petitioner, a suitor |
| Talisman | An object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish |
| Undulate | To movie in wavelike motion, to have a wavelike form/appearance |
| Articulate | (v.) To pronounce distinctly, to connect by a joint(s), (adj.) Expressed clearly, able to employ language clearly, jointed |
| Cavort | To prance around happily, to make merry |
| Credence | Belief, mental acceptance |
| Decry | To condemn, express strong disapproval, to officially depreciate |
| Dissemble | To disguise, conceal, give false impression purposely |
| Distraught | Agitated/upset as a result of emotion or mental conflict |
| Eulogy | A formal statement of commendation, high praise |
| Evince | To Display clearly, make evident, provoke |
| Exhume | To remove from a grave, bring light to |
| Feckless | Lacking in spirit and strength, ineffective, weak, irresponsible, unreliable |
| Murky | Dark, gloomy, obscure, lacking in clarity and precision |
| Nefarious | Wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards |
| Piquant | Stimulating to the taste or mind, spicy, pungent, appealingly provacative |
| Primordial | Developed or created at the very beginning, going back to ancient times, fundamental, basic |
| Propinquity | Nearness in place or time, kinship |
| Unwonted | Not usual or expected, not in character |
| Utopian | Founded upon/involving a visionary view of an ideal world, impractical |
| Verbiage | Language that is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the content, wordiness, a manor of expression |
| Verdant | Green in tint or color, immature in experience or judgement |
| Viscous | Having a gluey quality, lacking in easy movement |
| Atrophy | (n.) The wasting away of a body organ or tissue, progressive decline or failure, (v.) To waste away |
| Bastion | A fortified place, stronghold |
| Concord | A state of agreement, harmony, unanimity, a treaty, pact, covenant |
| Consummate | (adj.) Complete or perfect in the highest degree, (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection |
| Disarray | (n.) Disorder, confusion, (v.) to throw into disorder |
| Exigency | Urgency, pressure, pressing need, emergency, urgent demand |
| Flotsam | Floating debris, homeless, impoverished people |
| Frenetic | Frenzied, highly agitated |
| Glean | To gather bit by bit, to gather small amounts of grain left in a field by the reapers |
| Grouse | (n.) A type of game bird, a complain, (v.) To complain, grumble |
| Incarcerate | To imprison, confine, jail |
| Incumbent | (adj.) Required, obligatory, (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of |
| Jocular | Humorous, jesting, jolly, joking |
| Ludicrous | Ridiculous, laughable, absurd |
| Mordant | Biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style, sharply or bitterly harsh |
| Nettle | (n.) A prickly or stinging plant, (v.) To arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger, to vex or irritate |
| Pencuniary | Consisting of or measured in money, of or relating to money |
| Pusillanimous | Contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited |
| Recumbent | In a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting |
| Stratagem | A scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end |
| Acuity | Sharpness (particularly in the mind or sense) |
| Delineate | To portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivd detail, to represent pictorially |
| Depraved | Marked by evil/corruption, devoid of moral principles |
| Enervate | To weaken the mental, moral, of physical vigor of, enfeeble, hamstring |
| Esoteric | Intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret |
| Fecund | Fruitful in offspring or vegetation, intellectually provacative |
| Fiat | An arbitrary order or decree, a command or act of will or consciousness |
| Figment | A fabrication of the mind, an arbitrary notion |
| Garner | To acquire as the result of effort, to gather and store away for future use |
| Hallow | To set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate, to honor, revere |
| Idiosyncrasy | A peculiarity the serves to distinguish or identify |
| Ignominy | Shame and disgrace |
| Mundane | Earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs, concerned with what is ordinary |
| Nuance | Subtle variation, delicate gradation or shade of difference |
| Overweening | Conceited, presumptuous, excessive, immoderate |
| Penchant | A strong attraction or inclination |
| Reputed | According to reputation or general belief, having widespread acceptance and a good reputation, alleged |
| Sophistry | Reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound, a fallacy |
| Sumptuous | Costly, rich, magnificent |
| Ubiquitous | Present or existing everywhere |
| Acquisitive | Greedy, grasping, avaricious, retentive |
| Arrogate | Expropriate, usurp, commandeer |
| Banal | Stale, insipid |
| Belabor | Overwork |
| Carping | Nit-picking, caviling |
| Coherent | Connected, unified, consistent, cohesive |
| Congeal | Harden, jell, coagulate, solidify |
| Emulate | Copy, mimic, rival, match, measure up to |
| Encomium | Panegyric, eulogy, commendation |
| Eschew | Abstain from, steer clear of, forgo |
| Germane | Pertinent |
| Insatiable | Unquenchable, ravenous, inappropriate |
| Intransigent | Uncompromising, unyielding, obdurate |
| Invidious | Malicious, spiteful, prejudicial, pejorative |
| Largesse | Liberality, munificence, bounty |
| Reconnaissance | Scouting expedition |
| Substantiate | Verify, confirm, validate, authenticate |
| Taciturn | Laconic, tight-lipped, uncommunicative |
| Temporize | Hedge, dillydally, procrastinate |
| Tenable | Defensible, justifiable, maintainable |
| Accost | Buttonhole, approach, confront |
| Animadversion | Rebuke, reproof |
| Avid | Keen, enthusiastic, grasping |
| Brackish | Briny, saline |
| Celerity | Promptness, alacrity, speed |
| Devious | Roundabout, indirect, sly, artful, tricky |
| Gambit | Ploy, stratagem, ruse, maneuver |
| Halcyon | Tranquil serene, placid, palmy |
| Histrionic | Affected, stagy |
| Incendiary | (adj.) Inflammatory, provocative, (n.) firebrand |
| Maelstrom | Vortex, chaos, turbulence, tumult |
| Myopic | Shortsighted |
| Overt | Clear, obvious, manifest, patent |
| Pejorative | None |
| Propriety | Fitness, correctness, decorum |
| Sacrilege | Desecration, profanation, defilement |
| Summarily | Promptly, peremptorily, abruptly |
| Suppliant | None |
| Talisman | None |
| Undulate | Ripple, fluctuate, rise and fall |
| Articulate | (v.) Pronounce, elucidate, (adj.) eloquent |
| Cavort | Gambol |
| Credence | Credit, trust, confidence |
| Decry | Denounce, censure, devalue |
| Dissemble | Dissimulate, mask, feign |
| Distraught | Frantic, distracted |
| Eulogy | Panegyric, encomium, tribute, testimonial |
| Evince | Exhibit, manifest, occasion |
| Exhume | Unearth, disinter, uncover |
| Feckless | Feeble, helpless, incompetent, ineffectual |
| Murky | Dim, cloudy, unclear |
| Nefarious | Iniquitous, reprehensible |
| Piquant | Tangy, Zestful |
| Primordial | Original, primeval, primal |
| Propinquity | Proximity, similarity |
| Unwonted | Unusual, uncommon, unexpected, atypical |
| Utopian | Idealistic |
| Verbiage | Verbosity, prolixity, diction, jargon |
| Verdant | Artless, naive |
| Viscous | Gummy, sticky, thick |
| Atrophy | (n.) Degeneration, deterioration, (v.) Wither |
| Bastion | Citadel, rampart, bulwark, parapet |
| Concord | Disagreement, discord, strife |
| Consummate | (adj.) Masterful, (v.) Clinch, conclude |
| Disarray | (n.) Disorganization, (v.) Dishevel, mess up |
| Exigency | Requirement, crisis |
| Flotsam | Floating wreckage |
| Frenetic | Frantic, overwrought |
| Glean | Collect, cull, pick up |
| Grouse | Gripe, kvetch, bellyache |
| Incarcerate | Intern, immure |
| Incumbent | Mandatory, necessary |
| Jocular | Waggish, facetious, droll, witty |
| Ludicrous | Ridiculous, laughable, absurd |
| Mordant | Acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic, scathing |
| Nettle | Peeve, annoy, irk, gall, incense |
| Pecuniary | Monetary, financial |
| Pusillanimous | Craven, lily-livered |
| Recumbent | Prone, prostrate, supine, inactive |
| Stratagem | Ruse, trick, ploy, subterfuge |
| Acuity | Keenness, acuteness |
| Delineate | Depict, picture, render |
| Depraved | Perverted, degenerate, vicious, corrupt |
| Enervate | Impair, cripple, paralyze |
| Esoteric | Occult, cryptic, arcane, recondite |
| Fecund | Fertile, teeming, prolific |
| Fiat | Edict, dictum, ukase |
| Figment | Creation, invention, fancy |
| Garner | Collect, accumulate, accrue |
| Hallow | Venerate, bless |
| Idiosyncrasy | Eccentricity, quirk, mannerism |
| Ignominy | Dishonor, humiliation, disrepute, odium |
| Mundane | Prosaic, humdrum, routine, sublunary |
| Nuance | Shade, nicety, refinement |
| Overweening | Arrogant, unbridled, inflated |
| Penchant | Proclivity, propensity, predilection |
| Reputed | Putative, reputable, supposed |
| Sophistry | Specious, reasoning |
| Sumptuous | Lavish, munificent, opulent, splendid |
| Ubiquitous | Omnipresent, pervasive, universal |
| Abject | degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved |
| Agnostic | (n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God, a skeptic, (adj.) without faith, skeptical |
| Complicity | involvement in wrongdoing, the state of being an accomplice |
| Derelict | (n.) someone or something that is abandoned/neglected, (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty |
| Diatribe | a bitter and prolonged verbal attack |
| Effigy | a crude image of a despised person |
| Equity | the state of quality of being just, fair, or impartial; fair and equal treatment; something fair; the money value of a property above and beyond any mortgage or other claim |
| Inane | silly, empty of meaning or value |
| Indictment | the act of accusing, a formal accusation |
| Indubitable | certain, not doubting or denied |
| Intermittent | stopping and beginning again, sporadic |
| Moot | (adj.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved, (v.) to bring up for discussion, (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students |
| Motif | a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design |
| Neophyte | a new convert, beginner, novice |
| Perspicacity | keenness in observing and understanding |
| Plenary | complete in all aspects or essentials, absolute; attended by all members |
| Surveillance | a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation |
| Sylvan | pertaining to or characteristic of forests; living or located in a forest, wooded, woody |
| Testy | easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation |
| Travesty | (n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation, a disguise especially the clothing of the opposite sex, (v.) to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion |
| Abject | wretched, miserable, ignoble, sheer, utter |
| Agnostic | (n.) doubter |
| Complicity | connivance, collusion |
| Derelict | (n.) vagrant, (adj.) remiss, delinquent |
| Diatribe | harangue, tirade |
| Effigy | figure, figurine, likeness |
| Equity | justice, fairness, impartiality |
| Inane | vapid, idiotic, moronic, fatuous |
| Indictment | charge, accusation |
| Intermittent | fitful, spasmodic, random |
| Indubitable | unquestionable, indisputable |
| Moot | (adj.) debatable, questionable, (v.) broach |
| Neophyte | tenderfoot, tyro, rookie |
| Perspicacity | acuity, acumen, discernment |
| Plenary | unlimited, unrestricted |
| Surveillance | observation, scrutiny, monitoring |
| Sylvan | forested, arcadian |
| Testy | irritable, peevish, waspish, petulant |
| Travesty | (n.) burlesque, parody, caricature, farce |
| Allay | to calm or pacify, set to rest, to lessen or relieve |
| Pertinacious | very persistent, holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs, hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied |
| Bestial | beastlike, beastly, brutal, subhuman in intelligence and sensibility |
| Convivial | festive, sociable, having fun together, genial |
| Coterie | a circle of acquaintances, a close-knit, often exclusive group of people with a common interest |
| Counterpart | a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another, a complement |
| Demur | (v.) to object or take exception to, (n.) an objection |
| Effrontery | shameless boldness, impudence |
| Embellish | to decorate, adorn, touch up, to improve by adding details |
| Ephemeral | lasting only a short time, short-lived |
| Felicitous | appropriate, apt, well chosen, marked by well-being or good fortune, happy |
| Furtive | done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty, stolen |
| Garnish | glaring, tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way |
| Illusory | misleading, deceptive, lacking in or not based on reality |
| Indigent | needy, impoverished |
| Inordinate | far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive |
| Jettison | to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome |
| Misanthrope | a person who hates or despises people |
| Picayune | of little value or importance, paltry, measly, concerned with trifling matters, small minded |
| Raiment | clothing, garments |
| Allay | reduce, alleviate, moderate |
| Bestial | animal, depraved, hostage |
| Convivial | fun-loving, jovial, merry |
| Coterie | clique, set |
| Counterpart | match |
| Demur | (v.) protest, object to |
| Effrontery | gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek |
| Embellish | ornament, garnish |
| Ephemeral | fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory |
| Felicitous | fortunate, well-put |
| Garnish | gaudy, flashy, tawdry |
| Illusory | specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary |
| Furtive | clandestine, covert, surreptitious |
| Indigent | penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute |
| Inordinate | exorbitant, extravagant |
| Jettison | cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon |
| Misanthrope | people-hater |
| Pertinacious | stubborn, dogged, determined |
| Picayune | inconsequential, piddling, trifling |
| Raiment | apparel, attire |
| Allege | to assert without proof or confirmation |
| Arrant | thoroughgoing, out-and-out, shameless, blatant |
| Badinage | light and playful conversation |
| Conciliate | to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent |
| Countermand | to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first |
| Echelon | one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit, a steplike formation of arrangement |
| Exacerbate | to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful |
| Fatuous | Stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way |
| Irrefutable | impossible to disprove, beyond argument |
| Juggernaut | a massive inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path |
| Lackadaisical | lacking in spirit or interest, halfhearted |
| Litany | a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list |
| Macabre | grisly, gruesome, horrible, distressing; having death as a subject |
| Paucity | an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth |
| Portend | to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give warning of |
| Raze | to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off |
| Recant | to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract |
| Saturate | to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully |
| Saturnine | of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood |
| Slough | (v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression |
| Allege | claim, contend |
| Arrant | egregious, unmitigated |
| Badinage | banter, persiflage, repartee |
| Conciliate | placate, mollify, propitiate |
| Countermand | recall, revoke |
| Echelon | level, rank |
| Exacerbate | aggravate, intensify, worsen |
| Fatuous | silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous |
| Irrefutable | indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable |
| Lackadaisical | listless, indolent, indifferent, lax |
| Litany | rigmarole, catalog, megillah |
| Macabre | grotesque, grim, ghoulish |
| Paucity | lack |
| Portend | bode, foretell, foreshadow, suggest |
| Raze | pull down, demolish, shave off |
| Recant | repudiate, disavow |
| Saturnine | sullen, morose |
| Slough | (v.) shed, slog |
| Saturate | permeate, drench, flood, imbue |
| Acclamation | a shout of welcome, an overwhelming verbal note of approval |
| Bucolic | characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral |
| Calumniate | to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously |
| Chary | extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident |
| collusion | secret agreement or cooperation |
| dilettante | (n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial |
| imperturbable | not easily excited, emotionally steady |
| increment | an enlargement, increase, addition |
| mandate | (n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order |
| paltry | trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable, inferior, trashy |
| paroxysm | a sudden outburst, a spasm, convulsion |
| pedantry | a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details |
| peregrination | the act of traveling; en excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country |
| redolent | fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura |
| refulgent | shining, radiant, resplendent |
| shibboleth | a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a common place saying or truism |
| tyro | a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill |
| unremitting | non stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless |
| vacillate | to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another to waver weaker in mind or will |
| vituperative | harshly abusive, severely scolding |
| acclamation | ovation, cheering, plaudits |
| bucolic | rustic |
| calumniate | defame, libel |
| chary | wary, skittish |
| collusion | conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots |
| dilettante | amateur, trifler |
| imperturbable | unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled |
| increment | accretion, gain |
| mandate | (n.) directive |
| paltry | measly, meager, piddling, trivial |
| paroxysm | fit, seizure |
| peregrination | journey, wandering, odyssey |
| redolent | evocative, reminiscent, aromatic |
| refulgent | luminous, splendid |
| shibboleth | catchphrase, password, slogan |
| tyro | neophyte |
| unremitting | constant, incessant, unrelenting |
| vacillate | seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate |
| vituperative | abusive, scurrilous, insulting |
| Askance | with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval |
| Attenuate | to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value |
| Benign | gentle, kind, forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant |
| Cavil | (v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) trivial objection or criticism |
| Charlatan | one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack |
| Decimate | to kill or destroy a large part of |
| Foible | a weak point, failing, minor flaw |
| Forgo | to do without, abstain from, give up |
| Fraught | full of or loaded with, accompanied by |
| Inure | to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure |
| Luminous | emitting or reflecting light, glowing, illuminating |
| Obsequious | marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons |
| Obtuse | blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression |
| Oscillate | to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver |
| Penitent | (adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes, (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing |
| Peremptory | having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute |
| Rebuff | (v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check |
| Reconnoiter | to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection |
| Shambles | a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess |
| Sporadic | occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order |
| Askance | distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically |
| Attenuate | thin out, dilute, water down |
| Benign | benevolent, salutary, salubrious, harmless |
| Cavil | (v.) nitpick, quibble |
| Charlatan | fraud, mountebank |
| Decimate | ravage, devastate |
| Foible | shortcoming, defect, quirk |
| Forgo | refrain from, renounce |
| Fraught | charged with |
| Inure | accustom, acclimate |
| Luminous | radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous |
| Obsequious | fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed |
| Obtuse | stupid, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted |
| Oscillate | vibrate, vacillate |
| Penitent | remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry |
| Peremptory | high-handed, unconditional |
| Rebuff | (v.) spurn, repulse, reject, (n.) a setback |
| Reconnoiter | scout |
| Sporadic | intermittent, spasmodic |
| Abrogate | to repeal, cancel, declare null and void |
| Ambient | completely surrounding, encompassing |
| Asperity | roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness |
| Burnish | (v.) to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish, (b.) gloss, brightness, luster |
| Cabal | a small group working in secret |
| Delectable | (adj.) delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory; (n.) an appealing or appetizing food or dish |
| Deprecate | to express mild disapproval; to belittle |
| Detritus | loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction |
| Ebullient | overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling |
| Eclectic | (adj.) drawn from different sources; (n.) one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources |
| Flaccid | limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness |
| Impecunious | having little or no money |
| Inexorable | inflexible, beyond influence; relentless, unyielding |
| Moribund | dying, on the way out |
| Necromancer | one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic, especially communication with the dead; in general, a magician or wizard |
| Onerous | burdensome; involving hardship or difficulty |
| Rife | common, prevalent, widespread, happening often; full, abounding; plentiful, abundant, replete |
| Rudiments | the parts of any subject of discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything |
| Sequester | to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody |
| Winnow | to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to remove the chaff from the wheat by blowing air on to it; to blow on, fan |
| Abrogate | annul, revoke |
| Asperity | rigor, harshness |
| Burnish | (v.) shine, buff |
| Cabal | clique, ring, gang, plot, conspiracy |
| Delectable | delicious, scrumptious |
| Deprecate | deplore, frown upon |
| Detritus | debris, wreckage, ruins, rubble |
| Ebullient | exhilarated, elated, exuberant |
| Eclectic | (adj.) selective, synthetic, pick-and-choose |
| Flaccid | soft, flabby |
| Impecunious | penniless, impoverished, indigent |
| Inexorable | inescapable, ineluctable, obdurate |
| Moribund | obsolescent |
| Necromancer | sorcerer, conjurer |
| Onerous | oppressive, weighty |
| Rudiments | fundamentals, basics |
| Sequester | seclude, segregate, isolate, closet |
| Winnow | sift, strain, filter, sort |
| Aesthetic | pertaining to beauty; sensitive or responsive to beauty |
| Defunct | no longer in existence of functioning, dead |
| Discomfit | to frustrate, thwart, or defeat; to confuse, perplex or embarrass |
| Espouse | to take up and support; to become attached to, adopt; to marry |
| Fetish | an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence |
| Gregarious | living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others |
| Hapless | marked by a persistent absence of good luck |
| Impeccable | faultless, beyond criticism or blame |
| Importune | to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently |
| Irreparable | incapable of being repaired or rectified |
| Laconic | concise, using few words |
| Languish | to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect |
| Mendacious | given to lying or deception; untrue |
| Nadir | the lowest point |
| Omnipresent | present at all places and times |
| Perfunctory | done in a superficial or halfhearted manner, without interest or enthusiasm |
| Plaintive | expressive of sorrow or woe, melancholy |
| Requite | to make suitable repayment, as for a kindness, service, or favor; to make retaliation, as for an injury or wrong; to reciprocate |
| Tantamount | equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect |
| Aesthetic | artistic |
| Defunct | extinct, nonexistent |
| Discomfit | nonplus, disconcert, foil |
| Espouse | embrace, wed |
| Fetish | charm, talisman, obsession |
| Gregarious | outgoing, extroverted |
| Hapless | unlucky, ill-starred, unfortunate |
| Impeccable | flawless, spotless, immaculate |
| Importune | implore, entreat, dun, tax |
| Interpolate | inject, interpose, introduce |
| Irreparable | irremediable |
| Laconic | terse, succinct, pithy, compact |
| Languish | flag, wilt, fade, pine |
| Mendacious | untruthful, lie |
| Nadir | rock bottom |
| Omnipresent | ubiquitous, ever-present |
| Perfunctory | slapdash, cursory, shallow |
| Plaintive | sad, doleful, lugubrious |
| Requite | reimburse, recompense, avenge |
| Tantamount | indistinguishable form |
| Interpolate | to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction |
| Abstruse | extremely difficult to understand |
| Affront | (n.) an open or intentional insult; a slight, (v.) to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront |
| Canard | a false rumor, fabricated story |
| Captious | excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up |
| Cognizant | aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction |
| Contrite | regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent |
| Cynosure | the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct |
| Decorous | well behaved, dignified, socially proper |
| Deign | to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend |
| Desiccated | thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting |
| Efficacy | the power to produce a desired result |
| Engender | to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form |
| Ethereal | light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound) |
| Facade | the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind) |
| Ghoulish | revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead |
| Incongruous | not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible |
| Machination | a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end |
| Mesmerize | to hypnotize, entrance, to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch |
| Opprobrium | disgraceful arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach |
| Putative | generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred |
| Abstruse | esoteric, arcane, recondite, occult |
| Affront | (n.) offense, (v.) offend |
| Canard | hoax |
| Captious | faultfinding, nit-picking, carping |
| Cognizant | conscious, acquainted |
| Contrite | remorseful, rueful |
| Cynosure | focus |
| Decorous | seemly, tasteful, becoming |
| Deign | deem, stoop |
| Desiccated | dehydrated, shriveled, parched |
| Efficacy | effectiveness, potency, reliability |
| Engender | beget, generate, cause, form |
| Ethereal | heavenly, celestial, gossamer |
| Facade | exterior, surface, mask, pretense |
| Ghoulish | fiendish, barbarous, monstrous |
| Incongruous | Discordant, jarring |
| Machination | plot, scheme, maneuver |
| Opprobrium | infamy, dishonor, odium, shame |
| Putative | supposed, presumed |
| Beatific | blissful; rendering or making blessed |
| Behemoth | a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance |
| Blandishment | anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk, apple-polishing |
| Cacaphonous | harsh-sounding, raucous, discordant, dissonant |
| Chicanery | trickery, deceptive practices or tactics, double-dealing |
| Consign | to give over to another's care, charge, or control; to entrust, deliver; to set apart for a special use |
| Coup | a highly successful stroke, masterstroke, tour de force, act, plan, or stragem; a sudden takeover of power or leadership |
| Euphemism | a mild or inoffensive expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one; a subtle |
| Febrile | feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever; frenetic |
| Gainsay | to deny, contradict, controvert; to dispute, oppose |
| Imminent | about to happen, threatening |
| Innate | natural, inborn, inherent; built-in |
| Loath | unwilling, reluctant, disinclied |
| Manifest | (adj.) clear, evident to the eyes or mind; (v.) to show plainly, exhibit, evince; (n.) a list of cargo and/or passengers |
| Minutiae | small or trivial details, trifling matters |
| Moratorium | a suspension of activity; an official waiting period; an authorized period of delay |
| Nostrum | an alleged cure-all, a remedy or scheme of questionable effectiveness |
| Pariah | one who is rejected by a social group or organization |
| Visionary | (adj.) not practical, lacking in realism; having the nature of a fantasy or dream; (n.) one given to far-fetched ideas; a dreamer or seer characterized by vision or foresight |
| Wizened | dry, shrunken, and wrinkled (often as the result of aging) |
| Beatific | rapturous, ecstatic, transcendent |
| Behemoth | mammoth, whale, elephant, colossus |
| Blandishment | allurement, enticement, cajolery |
| Consign | transfer, remit, convey |
| Imminent | Impending, looming |
| Innate | intrinsic, congenital |
| Loath | averse, indisposed |
| Manifest | (adj.) apparent; (v.) reveal, disclose |
| Minutiae | trivia, trifles |
| Moratorium | postponement, stoppage |
| Nostrum | panacea, elixer |
| Pariah | outcast, untouchable, persona non grata |
| Visionary | (adj.) utopian, isealistic, impractical |
| Wizened | withered, shrivled |
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